New mobility calls for new legends

80 Day Race

A race inspired by Jules Verne’s novel ‘Around the world in 80 days‘. At the time this was written, in 1873, new technology – fossil fuel-based technology – for the first time enabled one to travel around the world within 80 days. Today, we are at a new tipping point for mobility. This time new technology allows us to travel around the world within 80 days without fossil fuel.

The route of the race for 2020 edition

Starting June 6, 2020, Paris, the teams will race from one Host City to the next. Between the Host Cities each team is free to choose its own route. After Paris the first Host City where all teams will gather again is Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. After a brief stop, – providing a perfect opportunity for the audience to admire the vehicles and teams close-up – all teams will start the next leg simultaneously. From Kazakhstan they go into China.

At one of the major port cities of China the teams will be facilitated across the North Pacific Ocean to arrive at the west coast of North America where the race will continue through a variety of landscapes to San Diego. Starting the next leg they will travel into Mexico and have one more stop before being facilitated across the Atlantic Ocean to Morocco. Released in Morocco teams will race to the last stop in Monaco. From here an excitingly short leg will lead to the finish in Paris.

The rules are simple

The basic rules and regulations that teams have to meet, are designed to stimulate creativity, innovation and inventiveness.

Teams will consist of at least two persons; the Team Captain and the Vice Captain. They can be changed between legs and the Vice Captain even during a leg.

All vehicles have to be propelled by renewable resources and are not allowed to have a combustion engine.

Teams will have to respect the local legislation and cultural habits at all times.

Ocean crossings

The Pacific and Atlantic ocean crossing will be facilitated. For these crossings each team will receive the same amount of time added to their race time.

Winning

Teams will be ranked by the amount of time travelled during the race. Thus, the team with the least amount of race time earns the title ’80 Day Race winner’ and will be awarded during the prize giving ceremony.